In the first part of this series, we introduced the two Spanish-language programs offered by the Universidad Adventista del Plata (UAP). We shared the many benefits and opportunities that learning a second language can provide, especially for university students entering the workplace. In this second installment, we expand on these ideas and connect them to the core tenets of Adventist education and mission.
In an increasingly diverse job market, learning a second language can become a distinguishing element in comparison with other candidates. Students can return to their countries with a better understanding of Hispanic communities and be better equipped to work with them.
Living in another cultural context, interacting daily with people of different nationalities, and learning to communicate in a different language—all experiences favor the development of skills such as open-mindedness, independence, empathy, flexibility, adaptability, interpersonal communication, and cultural sensitivity.
Therefore, learning Spanish is an investment in the integral formation of the learner.
An Education that Values Diversity
This experience is also in harmony with the Adventist educational philosophy and writings of Ellen G. White, who stressed the value of individuality and diversity within the educational process: “We seldom find two persons exactly alike. Among human beings as well as among the things of the natural world, there is diversity. Unity in diversity among God’s children—the manifestation of love and forbearance in spite of difference of disposition—this is the testimony that God sent His Son into the world to save sinners.”
Each student has unique characteristics, experiences, talents, and ways of understanding the world. When people from different cultures and contexts interact, the educational space is enriched and expanded. Diversity is not an obstacle to education: it is part of its richness.
On a university campus where students of different nationalities, languages, and cultures converge, this diversity becomes an opportunity to learn from each other and grow together. These experiences strengthen professional competencies and grow the skills necessary to relate to others.
A Language That Opens Borders
Finally, learning Spanish can open cultural borders, improve human relationships, increase opportunities for service, and offer new ways of understanding the world. Students develop the ability to approach different people, understand their realities, and communicate with them from a place of greater empathy and trust.
Therefore, at UAP, learning Spanish means living the language, getting to know cultures, and building relationships. These opportunities prepare students for a professional world that needs people capable of crossing borders, because it is the great professional differential in the world today.
